The Candidates Chances in South Carolina

The year 1976 was the last time South Carolina voted Democrat in the presidential election. Still, Democrats in the Palmetto state have been energized on the road to 2008, with a record number of votes cast in South Carolina's Democratic primary in late January.

New voters in South Carolina could make the conservative stronghold fall from GOP ranks and vote for Sen. Barack Obama, going Democratic for the first time since 1976.

(ABC News)

During the primaries, Republican candidate for president John McCain won the state's Republican contest with 33 percent of the vote over former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee, who clinched 30 percent of the vote.

Democratic pick Barack Obama won South Carolina's Democratic primary with 55 percent of the vote.

The presidential hopefuls now compete for eight electoral votes in the traditionally Red Palmetto state.

Check back to see when ABC News heads to South Carolina and see how the race is shaping up for McCain and Obama.